Farewell to the King (1989)

Voti degli utenti:

5.8/10   

Regista:

John Milius

Writers (WGA):

Pierre Schoendoerffer (book)
John Milius (screenplay)

Data di uscita:

3 marzo 1989 (USA)

Genere:

Action | Adventure | Drama | War

Slogan:

In the midst of war, one man vanished into the jungle, and emerged as king.

Plot:

An American soldier who escapes the execution of his comrades by Japanese soldiers in Borneo during...

Plot Keywords:

Baby | Indonesia | Japanese Army | Asia | Racism

Recensioni degli utenti:

A moving, if slow, drama

Cast

Nigel Havers	...	Capt. Fairbourne
Frank McRae	...	Sgt. Tenga
Gerry Lopez	...	Gwai
Nick Nolte	...	Learoyd
Marilyn Tokuda	...	Yoo
Choy Chang Wing	...	Lian
Aki Aleong	...	Col. Mitamura
Marius Weyers	...	Sgt. Conklin
William Wise	...	Dynamite Dave
Wayne Pygram	...	Bren Armstrong
Richard Morgan	...	Strech Lewis
Elan Oberon	...	Vivienne
James Fox	...	Col. Ferguson
Michael Nissman	...	Gen. Sutherland
John Bennett Perry	...	Gen. MacArthur

Alias:

Addio al re (Italy) [it]

Durata:

UK:117 min | Argentina:115 min

Nazionalità:

USA

Lingua:

Inglese

Colore:

Colore (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sonoro:

Dolby SR

Divieti:

Australia:PG | Iceland:16 | USA:PG-13 (certificate #28820) | Argentina:13 | Finland:K-16 | Sweden:15 | USA:PG-13 | Singapore:PG | UK:PG

Luoghi delle riprese:

Hawaii, USA

Company:

Cine Location Services

Errori:

Audio/video fuori sincrono: According to Learoyd's narration, he kills Lian the Magnificent by striking him "in the heart," but the scene clearly shows him stabbing Lian in the lower side of his abdomen.

Citazioni:

Sgt. Tenga: Can't have any king save the one in London sir.

Movie Connections:

Featured in Dinosaur Island (1994)

A moving, if slow, drama

This is a curious piece whose dramatic arc takes a while to reach its full speed, but builds to a climax of considerable horror, involving cannibalism, genocide, loyalty and revenge. It is, I think, a mistake to label it an action movie: it is a drama, and played with a theatricality to which the viewer must adjust.

Nevertheless, once it gets into its stride this film has considerable charm.

The core cast bond closely and Frank Mcrae, who plays Sgt Tenga, and Marius Weyers (Sgt. Conklin) manage to give warmth to the invaders who threaten the survival of The People of the Hills.

The central relationship, between Nolte and Havers, is a fragile one which teeters on the brink of formulaic in Nolte's rescue of the sick Englishman and their mutual debts of gratitude and obligation. However, as they plunge into the conflict against the remnants of the defeated Japanese army, they each shock one another with what they are prepared to do.

I think the climax of the horror, which I do not wish to spoil, is brilliantly done. I felt the protagonists' turmoil and understood their brutal reactions, while still being shocked by it.

This film is open to charges of hokiness, theatricality and slowness, but, given a chance, it explores themes similar to those in The Thin Red Line; the imperialistic side effects of the Pacific war and the dehumanising effect of soldiering, against the fully human power of love and community.